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Cedar shake nailing pattern (C) Carson Dunlop Associates Wood Shingle or Shake Roof Inspection Checklist

Wood shingle or shake roof checklist:

Here we outline key inspection points for wood or cedar shake roofs, addressing shingle type, felt underlayment, shingle exposures, wood shingle keyways or gaps, wood shingle joints, and proper wood roofing shingle fasteners, installation details and good practices.

Our page top photo shows a worn-out wood shingle roof.

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Wood Roof Inspection Checklist

Leaky wood roof (C) Daniel FriedmanThe wood shingle roof inspection details outlined below are paraphrased from information provided by the Cedar Shake & Shingle Bureau, the recognized wood roofing authority since 1915 and from information provided by Carson Dunlop Associates a Toronto company offering home inspections, home inspection publications, and home inspection education.

[Click to enlarge any image]


Roof Slope or Pitch
Maximum Wood Shingle Exposure on Roofs
Grade No. 1 Blue Label Shingles
Grade No. 2 Red Label Shingles
Grade No. 3 Black Label Shingles
Shingle Length
Shingle Length
Shingle Length
16" 18" 24" 16" 18" 24" 16" 18" 24"
3/12 - 4/12 3 3/4" 4 1/4" 5 3/4" 3 1/2" 4" 5 1/2" 3" 3 1/2" 5"
4/12 & steeper 5" 5 1/2" 7 1/2" 4" 4 1/2" 6 1/2" 3 1/2" 4" 5 1/2"

...

Roof Slope or Pitch Maximum Wood Shake Exposure on Roofs
Wood Shake Length
18" 24"
4/12 & steeper roofs 7 1/2" 10" (Note)

Notes to the table above

Wood shingle roof (C) Daniel Friedman

Too many staples may damage wood shakes or shingles and these also miss the skip sheathing boards (C) InspectPedia.com

The staples that missed the skip sheathing on this roof might be trouble, and are discussed

at WOOD ROOF INSTALLATION SPECS

Wood shakes (C) Carson Dunlop Associates

Carson Dunlop Associates' sketch above shows the typical cedar shake application pattern and spacing.

Cedar shake nailing pattern (C) Carson Dunlop Associates

Above Carson Dunlop Associates' sketch shows typical cedar shake nailing details & pattern and exposures. Notice that for this example cedar shake roof a felt interlay is installed between every course of shakes.

 


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WOOD ROOF INSPECTION GUIDE at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING ROOFING

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